A man who previously denied stealing a quad bike from a County Durham farm shed has changed his plea and admitted the offence.

Anthony Etherington previously denied stealing the Suzuki 500 machine, “jointly with another”, from an outbuilding at a farm at Hunderthwaite, in Teesdale, on November 1, last year.

Appearing at a further hearing at Durham Crown Court, the 34-year-old defendant of Norfolk Place, Bishop Auckland, changed his plea to guilty.

His co-accused, 41-year-old Andrew Ballan, of St Luke’s Close, Bishop Auckland, also denied the charge at the original hearing at the court on July 2.

(Image: Newsquest) Asked by Recorder Tom Moran what the position of Mr Ballan is, now that his co-accused has pleaded guilty, his counsel, Ayman Khokhar, said it was unchanged, and he would still be standing trial.

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“He accepts his work van was used in the commission of the offence, but he maintains he had no knowledge that his work van was being used for that purpose,” added Mr Khokhar.

A trial date has been set for Monday, January 6, and Recorder Moran said whatever the outcome of that hearing, Etherington could then be sentenced, on January 7.

Both defendants were bailed to return to court on those days.